| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years. | 1Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years. |
| 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | 2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. | 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles. |
| 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. | 4He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. |
| 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. |
| 6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. | 6Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the LORD gave him rest. |
| 7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. | 7So he said to the people of Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded. |
| 8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor. | 8Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors. |
| 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. | 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. |
| 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. | 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. |
| 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.” | 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: " LORD, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, LORD our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You." |
| 12So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. | 12So the LORD routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. |
| 13Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder | 13Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. |
| 14and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. | 14Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the LORD was on them. They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them. |
| 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
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